• Mary Ellen Haley
• B.A., Education, B.A., Special Education, Western Washington University
• Mary Ellen began her teaching career with the Tacoma Public Schools where she taught in special education, then as a first grade teacher. While raising her children, she worked for WACAP, a national adoption agency where she was program developer and manager for the US Waiting Child Program. In 1989, Mary Ellen happily returned to teaching as head teacher for the next 16 years with Lakewood Cooperative Preschool, an affiliate of Seattle Community College. She took a three year "retirement" which left her longing for the excitement of being back in the classroom with young children. She returned to teaching at Capitol Hill Co-op in 2007, and loves the energy and commitment of the young families she works with. In her personal life, Mary Ellen and her husband have raised a large multiracial, multicultural family through adoption and foster care. Mary Ellen is strongly committed to making sure that young children are given time to play, time to be joyful, and time to be curious and awestruck about the world around them. Her classroom curriculum is play based and respectful of the children's ideas and interests.

• Mischa Redenbaugh

• Linda Barber, Parent Educator
• B.A, Education, Pacific Lutheran University
• M.Ed., City University
• Linda is a former public school teacher and a co-founder of the Community Day School Association. Before becoming a parent educator for CHCP, she worked with families and children from all walks of life in the Raising Healthy Children project at the University of Washington. She is a parent and grandparent (all co-op children), and feels privileged to work with so many wonderful co-op families.

Announcing: Capitol Hill Cooperative Preschool Tots Program
We are excited to add a new age group to our CHCP family. The idea of a Tots Class has been considered for years, and with the work of several Co-op members, we have found a great Teacher, Jennifer Parks to lead our new class. Jennifer brings years of teaching experience and great energy to this pilot program. The class will meet once a week, and include a monthly Parent meeting led by Linda Barber and Jennifer. Parenting topics will focus on age appropriate issues. Class has started, but you can enroll any time.

THE DETAILS:

• What: Tots Class
• Who: Children Between Age 1 and 2 (by Aug. 31st of this year) A parent or caregiver will attend each class with their child
• When: Tuesdays 3:30 - 5:00 with one parent education meeting per month led by Linda Barber
• Where: CHCP
• Cost: $70 per month

At the first class we ask that you bring a check for $120 ($50 registration, $70 final month tuition), and the completed forms

tuition-insert-tots2008-09.doc
st-patricks-releasetot.doc
permission-to-photograph-2007-08tot.doc
immunizations.pdf
consent-to-medical-care-and-information-on-childtot.doc
chcp-parent-agreement-tots-2007-08.doc

• We want the children to:
• learn through play
• have a successful early experience with school
• learn to expect school and learning to be fun
• develop self-esteem
• become socialized, positively, by making friends, learning to respect the rights of others, share, take turns, etc.,
• gain independence
• develop verbal, cognitive, large and small motor skills

• We want the parents to:
• improve their parenting, leadership, and teaching skills
• participate in their children's education
• share ideas

2´s classes
Monday & Wednesday 9:15-11:30 or
Tuesday & Thursday 9:15-11:30
Fees $125/month

3-5´s classes
Monday - Thursday 9:00-12:00 or
Monday-Thursday 12:45-3:45
Fees $250/month

Tot´s classes
Tuesdays 3:30 - 5:00pm
Fees $70/month

A $50 non-refundable registration fee and June tuition are due at the time of application. If enrollment is not awarded only the last month tuition will be refunded. Neither fee is refundable after enrollment has been granted. Incomplete applications will be returned. All costs, such as parent education and field trips, are included in the tuition. There are no additional surcharges. The birthday cut-off for all classes is August 31st. If you feel your child should go into a different class, feel free to speak with the Registrar(s). For more information, please call the school at (206) 324-2944 or you can contact us

Fees are kept at a minimum to encourage enrollment by any family interested in joining the co-op. The co-op’s monthly expenses include teachers' salaries, FICA, rent, insurance, art and paper supplies, and maintenance and equipment, including repairs and equipment replacement. In the event that a parent wishes to withdraw a child from the school, the parent must give one month's notice. The registration fee and June’s tuition are not refunded.

Financial aid is available.

The 3 to 5's classes meet four days per week for 3 hours. On a typical day, children arrive, wash hands and enter the classroom. After a welcoming circle that may include a discussion of the day and sharing by the children, the first part of the day is devoted to exploration and free play of the learning centers. These centers change from day to day and week to week and may include the following

• art activities
• the sensory table filled with tactile objects
• dramatic play area
• cooking projects
• puzzles
• library area
Following free play the children assist with clean up to teach responsibility and cooperation. The class is then invited to participate in group activities which will vary from day to day and may include:
• stories
• dramatic play
• group games
• songs
• dancing
The class then enjoys a snack brought by parents on a rotating basis. The sharing of snack is an opportunity to build social skills. Following snack the class can engage in gross motor play. Whenever the weather is permitting this takes place at the park by the school. In inclement weather we utilize the climber and other play equipment in our large play area. To close the day the children gather again for a brief goodbye. The 3-5’s class will also participate in field trips throughout the year to reinforce themes in the classroom as well as to experience opportunities in our community.

The 2's classes meet two days per week for 2 1/4 hours. On a typical day children arrive, wash hands and enter the classroom. The first part of the day is devoted to exploration and free play of the learning centers. These centers build skills in a developmentally appropriate manner. The centers change from day to day and week to week and may include the following

• art activities
• the sensory table filled with tactile objects
• dramatic play area
• cooking projects
• puzzles
• library area

The children then assist with clean up to teach responsibility and cooperation. The class is then invited to participate in group activities which will vary from day to day and may include:

• stories to develop
• dramatic play to develop
• group games to develop
• songs to develop
• dancing to develop
The class then enjoys a snack brought by parents on a rotating basis. The sharing of snack is an opportunity to build social skills. Following snack the class can engage in gross motor play. Whenever the weather is permitting this takes place at the park by the school. In inclement weather we utilize the climber and other play equipment in our large play area. To close the day the children gather again for a brief goodbye.

Cooperative preschools were established in the Seattle Public Schools in 1940.

In the Fall of 1952, the Stevens Cooperative Play Group merged with the Lowell Cooperative Preschool. The group met originally at Lowell School, then in 1959 moved to facilities provided by St. Mark's Cathedral, and in 1991 moved to their current location at St. Patrick´s Catholic Church.

Sometime after l959, responsibility for over-seeing cooperative preschools was transferred from the public school system to Seattle Central Community College, Family Life Department.

The Capitol Hill Co-op is one of seven parent cooperative preschools affiliated with Seattle Central Community College.

When you join a co-op you are enrolled at the preschool and become a student at the college. Your course is called Parent Education. You have all of the privileges of any other SCCC student, including student rates and discounts and the use of the libraries.

Parent meetings, held once a month in the evening, provide your classroom instruction. Our Parent Educator is on the staff of the Early Childhood Education Program at SCCC and will be using a curriculum designed for our parent education course.

Enrollment for a given school year begins February 1st. During the month of February, the Registrar accepts applications from returning families for the following school year. On March 1st, the Registrar begins accepting applications from new families as well. Applications must be complete and include all required fees to be considered. All new applications received during the month of March are considered together. If there are more applications than space available, enrollment and placement on the waitlist will be awarded on a lottery basis. Any family not awarded enrollment will receive the last month’s tuition back but not the non-refundable application fee. After March 31st, enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. Once a given class is full, a waitlist will be established, from which vacancies will be filled. Applications received from returning families will have priority over applications received from new families. Children must reach class age by Aug. 31. If there is space in the class, children with birthdays after Aug. 31 can be admitted on a case-by-case basis if the teacher approves. When a new family observes the co-op before formally registering a child, the parent/guardian/caretaker may observe the teacher and class twice, but only once with a child.

Twins or siblings enrolled in the same class or different classes will be charged 100% tuition for each child. If the parent has two children in a 2’s class, he or she will work as if co-oping with one child. If the parent has two children in 3-5’s classes, he or she will work three days in the classroom for every two days that a parent with only one child in the co-op will work. If the parent has one child in a 2’s class and a child in a 3-5’s class, he or she will work as if co-oping with one child in the 2’s class and will work two days in the classroom for every three days that a parent with only one child in the co-op will work.

Capitol Hill Cooperative Preschool makes every effort to work with families who may have special needs. We are proud of our ability to have included children who are non-native English speakers and children with developmental delays. We have many children with significant and severe allergies. We maintain a nut free school and each class works together to ensure that snack is a healthy and safe activity for each child. Please contact our registrars to discuss any specific needs or concerns you may have.

Parent Requirements

1. Completion of required school forms by the first day of school.
2. Attendance at monthly parent meetings. The person working in the classroom must attend the parent meetings. Other caregivers are also welcome. Parents host these meetings and provide snacks on a rotating basis. Two absences will result in a review by the Board of the member's eligibility in the preschool.
3. Sharing in the cooperative operation by holding and carrying out a Board or school job position.
4. Working in the classroom as scheduled. This includes:
• Arriving on time.
• Being responsible as an assistant teacher in the classroom.
• Cleaning up and making school ready for the next class.
• Staying at the end of school until all children have been picked up.
• Finding a replacement when you cannot be there.
5. Providing snack on a rotating basis.
6. Paying of fees per contract. Tuition will be considered in arrears as of the 7th of the month and a $25.00 late charge will be added.
7. Contributing to fundraisers.

The board reserves the right to withdraw a child if a family is does not comply with these requirements